Simulated sounding space weapon toy



July 30, 1968 A. J. VALENTINE 3,394,491

SIMULATED SOUNDING SPACE WEAPON TOY Filed July 9, 1965 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. AMEDEE JAMES VALENTINE Cut ATTORNEY United States PatentSIMULATED SOUNDlNG SPACE WEAPON TOY Am edee James Valentine, NorthHollywood, Calil:'., as-

SlgllOl of twenty-five percent to Ronald Stein, and

twenty-five percent to Sanford Astor, both of Northridge, Calif.

Filed July 9, 1965, Ser. No. 470,671 Claims. (Cl. 46-227) ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a sound producing childs toy inthe shape of a space weapon or a space ship. It is battery operated andby means of an external switch depressed by the child a note of fixedfrequency is impressed upon a transistor. Rotation of a knob by thechild controls a potentiometer which changes the pitch of the soundproduced. Manipulation of the switch and knob allows variation in thesound produced by the toy.

This invention relates generally to a childs toy and more particularlyto a childs toy which when activated by the child produces a sound whichmay be varied by manipulation of the toy.

Many toys which make noise have been marketed for children. These toysare mainly of the percussive type in which a sharp sound is produced bystriking a portion of the toy or by two parts of the toy which strikeautomatically together. Toys of this type are irritating to parents orany other persons in the vicinity. In addition these toys tend to makechildren more excited, nervous, and hard to control.

The toy of the present invention when actuated by the child produces asteady pitch or sound more harmonious and soothing than the toyspreviously made for children. A need has long existed for a childs toywhich would sooth a child rather than excite him. A tone or sound whichto some extent imitates a human voice can provide long hours of quietpleasure for a child and his parents. While talking dolls have beenmade, the child must operate them by pulling a cord, an action of whichany child quickly tires.

The toy of the present invention does not imitate words, however it doesallow the child to constantly vary a pitch or sound, turn it off and on,so that the child has control over the sound created. Since the toy isbattery operated no effort need be exerted by the child.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be more fullyset forth in the following specification and claims, considered with theattached drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the bottom of theembodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of anotherembodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a battery connected to atransistor 12. The battery is connected to the transistor emitter 14.The transistor base 16 is connected through a potentiometer 18 to oneside 20 of a transformer 22. The transistor collector 24 is connected tothe other side 26 of the transformer 22, as is a speaker 30 and ifdesired a lamp (not shown). The lamp is not required of course toproduce the sound but may be employed to flash when the circuit isclosed, if desired. A

switch 34 is provided in the circuit connected to battery 10. Acondenser 28 is connected between the transformer 22 and the transistorbase 16 to form the circuit.

When the switch 34 is closed a note of fixed frequency is impressed uponthe transistor 12 which note can be audibly heard through the speaker30. When the potentiometer 18, the variable resistance, is adjusted, thefrequency of the note is altered and a different pitch is heard throughspeaker 30.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the toy of the present invention isshown. The body of the toy 36 is in the shape of a space ship or flyingsaucer; that is the body 36 consists of a lower conical section 38. Anupper conical section 40 is inverted on top of section 38 so that 'thelarger diameter of the two conical sections meet and are fixedlyattached together at the center seam 42. The body may be made from anysolid material such as aluminum or plastic. A clear plastic isparticularly desirable since the child then has an opportunity to viewthe electrical components which would be fixedly attached to the innersurface of the body 36.

The cannon or weapon 44 of the space ship is in the form of a buttonfixedly attached through the body 36 at a point just below the middleseam 42 of the body 36. Depressing button 44 actuates switch 34 locatedinside body 36. Depressing button 44 therefore closes the circuit shownin FIG. 1 and a note of fixed frequency and pitch is heard throughspeaker 30.

The power generation unit 46 of the space ship in the shape of a conicaldial is fixedly attached to a rod (not shown) passing through the top ofthe upper portion 40. Rotation of the power generation unit 46 modifiesthe resistance of the potentiometer 18 of the circuit shown in FIG. 1,changing the pitch and frequency of the note heard.

Manipulation of the button 44 on the one hand and the dial 46 on theother hand allows the child to produce a constant sound of fixedfrequency, to produce a constant sound of varying frequency or anintermittent sound of constant or varying frequency.

A color code 48 may be provided if desired, fixed to upper portion 40around dial 46. A viewing slot 50 is provided in the power generationunit, dial 46, so that rotation of the dial 46 rotates the slot 50. Anygiven frequency or setting of the potentiometer 18 by setting dial 56will correspond to a color seen in the viewing slot 50.

FIG. 4 shows the bottom 52 of the space ship body 36 with vents 54. Thespeaker 30 shown in FIG. 1 is fixed inside and adjacent the bottom 52 sothat the sound can be heard through vents 54.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative childs toy, a space weapon or gun, in theform of an elongated cone 56. A smaller cone 58 is inverted at the upperend of cone 56 so that the smaller diameter of each cone 56 and 58 arejoined at seam '60. A trigger device 62, in the form of a button isfixedly attached through the cone 56. Depression of button 62 closes thecircuit shown in FIG. 1, to produce a constant sound of fixed frequencyand pitch. A power control knob 64, designated to control the amount ofpower in the space weapon, is rotated to vary the resist ance, adjustthe potentiometer 18 mounted inside the weapon, and varies the frequencyand pitch of the note heard through speaker 30. As in the space ship toyof FIGS. 2 and 3, a child can manipulate the switch and knob to create aconstant or varying tone. A color code 66 viewed through slot 68 allowsrepetitive setting of the knob at any certain pitch.

Lamp 32 is optional and can be included in either the design of FIGS. 2and 3 or FIG. 5 in addition to the sound created and is preferablyviewed through a transparent section.

Children playing with the toy of this invention develop coordinative andrhythmic ability in both their hands through manipulation of the switchand knob. In addition the sound quality tends to soothe the children andkeep them relaxed and quiet.

It is evident that changes and modifications may be made in theembodiments of the invention described above without departing from thespirit of the invention. However, the embodiments shown are preferreddue to their portability, their relationship to present interest inspace exploration, particularly to children, as well as the fact thattheir shapes provide a convenient receptacle for the components and theyallow the child to operate the toy easily while coordinating two hands.

I claim:

1. A childs toy in which a sound is produced comprising a toy spaceweapon having circuit means including sound producing means, movableswitch means simulating a trigger device and potentiometer control meansincluding a revolvable knob simulating a power unit wherein depressionof said trigger device closes said circuit causing a sound to beproduced and rotation of said power unit changes the pitch of the soundproduced.

2. The toy of claim 1 in which depression of said trigger device causessaid switch means to close impressing a note of fixed frequency upon atransistor.

3. The toy of claim 1 in which a light fixed inside said weapon goes onwhen said trigger device is depressed.

4. The toy of claim 1 in which a color code located on said weapon isvisible through a slot in said power unit.

5. A childs toy in which a sound is produced comprising a toy space shiphaving circuit means including sound producing means, movable switchmeans simulating a weapon and potentiometer control means including arevolvable knob simulating a power unit wherein depression of saidweapon closes said circuit causing a sound to be produced and rotationof said power unit changes the pitch of the sound produced.

